Use of enterprise collaboration tools has been growing like wildfire over the past five years. Case in point: Gartner forecasts the social and collaboration software market to reach $6.9 billion in 2024 (a jump of 97% from 2019!). That’s a whole lotta enterprise collaboration.
If you ever made it through a meeting that could have been an email, then you know that working together sometimes… doesn't work. That's why choosing the best enterprise collaboration tools is critical for effective team alignment, increased engagement, and stronger relationships.
What are enterprise collaboration tools?
Enterprise collaboration tools are software applications or platforms that streamline how teams work together. Think of them as the cure for messy and ineffective teamwork, where messages get lost, files are all over the place, and meetings lull you to sleep. These solutions keep your team members connected and organized so they actually enjoy working together.
Related: How to improve teamwork in your workplace: 5 easy tips
Why use enterprise collaboration tools
The best enterprise collaboration tools help you break down information silos and simplify workflows. They benefit your organization by:
- Enabling tailored workflows: Are you stuck managing projects with endless email chains? Collaboration tools allow you to customize your virtual workplace to match your needs. For example, you can set up a process where tasks are automatically assigned, with clear deadlines and visibility for everyone, eliminating email back and forth.
- Improving customer and employee experience: Does a happy team lead to happy clients? According to a survey by NTT Data, 94% of leaders agree that enhancing EX will positively impact CX. With collaborative tools, teams share ideas and feedback easily, reducing frustration and increasing overall satisfaction.
- Supporting growing data volume: As your businesses grow, the amount of data you generate skyrockets. Collaboration tools offer centralized storage and organization for documents, files, and project information. You can find the information you need in seconds, reducing wasted time and improving decision-making.
- Ensuring data security: Collaboration tools have strong security features, like limits on who can access data, password protection, and access controls. These features make sure that only people who are allowed to access sensitive information can do so.
- Facilitating seamless integration with your tech stack: Strong enterprise collaboration systems work smoothly with the other applications your organization already uses. They remove the hassle of complex data migration, making it easier for everyone to get up to speed with new tools.
Related: Team collaboration software: A buyer’s guide
12 best collaboration tools for enterprises
Here are the 12 best enterprise collaboration tools for planning, communicating, and delivering great teamwork. For a truly collaborative search, we highly recommend sharing this topic with your folks, OK?
1. Mural
Great work isn’t done alone, and that's what we love about Mural's features: They make seamless collaboration possible anywhere with your teammates, clients, and partners. Want to make the most of teamwork in your enterprise? Rely on a collaboration workspace like Mural, where you can plan, brainstorm, align, and share your ideas visually in one single place.
Here's what makes Mural the best enterprise collaboration platform:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop digital whiteboard to make your projects more interactive on desktop or mobile
- A library of templates with hundreds of options to streamline your workflow
- Real-time and asynchronous work, whether your team is on-site, hybrid, or fully remote
- Smooth integration with communication, project management, and file storage apps
- Enterprise-grade features that ensure security and deliver specialized support at scale
- Facilitation Superpowers™ that help you customize your workspace and say goodbye to boring meetings forever
Related: Discover what you can do with Mural
2. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams offers a central hub for chat communication, file sharing, video conferencing, and task management. As part of the 365 suite, the platform easily integrates with applications like Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
Security features include multi-factor authentication and data encryption at rest and in transit. While Teams offers a robust feature set, its interface might feel complex at first, so the learning curve can be steeper than other collaboration tools.
3. Asana
Asana is one of the best enterprise collaboration tools for strict project management software. It helps your team organize work, track progress, and collaborate effectively. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating tasks, assigning them to team members, and tracking deadlines.
Asana offers project boards, lists, and timelines to customize visualizations for various workflow styles. Its features for secure collaboration include user permissions, audit logs, and two-factor authentication. While it has a user-friendly setup, Asana's extensive toolset may require some experience, so training sessions are essential for new users.
Related: The 13 best Agile project management tools
4. Figma
Figma is a web-based tool widely used in industries that value collaborative design and user experience. Ideal for real-time co-designing, it allows design teams from SaaS companies, creative agencies, and other businesses to collaborate on prototypes and user interfaces.
Features include vector editing, prototyping tools, design systems management, and developer handoffs. You can ensure file security with version control, user permissions, and team management tools. Though great for design teams, Figma may not be ideal for general collaboration across different departments.
5. Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a cloud-based set of productivity tools that include Google Drive, Docs, Gmail, and others. It allows you to collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations simultaneously from any device.
In terms of security, you get access controls, authentication, and data encryption. While a comprehensive suite, Google Workspace lacks advanced project management features like those in dedicated tools like Asana or Trello.
6. Slack
Slack is considered one of the best remote collaboration tools for businesses in the instant messaging category. It’s popular across various industries due to its versatility, ease of use, and integration capabilities.
Slack is a suitable option for streamlining group communication and information sharing. It enables you to create dedicated spaces for specific projects, topics, and departments. The main features include direct messaging and file sharing, but you can also create huddles to meet your teammates via video — hopefully, you got your hair done.
When it comes to security, the platform offers data encryption and compliance with regulations like SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR. Keep in mind that this option lacks project management or co-editing capabilities, so integrate it with other tools for seamless teamwork.
7. Trello
Famous for its Kanban-style boards, Trello is a project management tool that helps teams visualize workflows and track progress easily. It also offers task lists, deadlines, labels, attachments, and integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack.
Trello's board and card system is ideal for managing less complex projects. For security, it offers team permissions, board privacy settings, and two-factor authentication. But the platform doesn't provide built-in features such as time tracking and a Gantt chart, relying only on third-party apps for these solutions.
8. Zoom
Zoom is known as one of the best collaboration tools for business when it comes to video calls, so it's a popular option for hybrid teams and remote work. Its cloud-based video conferencing platform enables collaboration through virtual meetings, webinars, and online events.
Zoom has a user-friendly interface and high-quality video and audio that enable large meetings, minimizing the risk of frozen speakers. The platform offers nice tools for teamwork, like breakout rooms, screen sharing, and integrations with various calendars. Protection features include password protection, encryption, and even waiting rooms — no more surprise cat filters during your board meetings. Like other platforms that excel in one capability, Zoom needs integrations for project collaboration and document management.
9. Jira
Jira is a project management software that offers features for sprint planning, issue tracking, user stories, and more.
It’s primarily designed for Agile software development.
Jira helps teams manage tasks in real time using Scrum and Kanban boards, and you can easily integrate it with design tools like Figma and Adobe XD. To protect your projects, features like two-factor authentication and single sign-on (SSO) are available to strengthen access control. However, Jira's complexity can be a drawback for non-technical users or projects outside of the Agile umbrella — make sure your business fits the profile to prevent nightmares.
10. Zapier
Zapier is a tool for automating workflows that send information from one web application to another. Its best feature is the ability to integrate thousands of apps without coding knowledge. Use it to streamline processes like sending marketing leads to your CRM or generating invoices when you get a new order in your online store.
Zapier’s features include creating teams and folders to share app connections and workflows with team members. You can also encrypt files and manage permissions to control who accesses your system. However, since Zapier doesn't offer real-time collaboration, consider pairing it with other tools for a well-rounded solution.
11. Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage system for securely sharing files, storing documents, and managing them in collaboration. Need a user-friendly way to share files across any device? Dropbox simplifies this task by offering file versioning, mobile access, and integrations with Microsoft 365, Adobe products, and Google Cloud.
This platform is particularly helpful for remote teams who need document backups and large file sharing. Dropbox also protects your information by offering encryption of files (at rest and in-transit), user permissions, and security controls to prevent data breaches. But it's better to go with alternative solutions if your team requires document co-authoring capabilities to edit proposals, spreadsheets, or presentations.
12. Airtable
Airtable is a platform that bridges the gap between spreadsheets and traditional databases. This tool allows your team to create, organize, and share information. The highlight of Airtable is its ability to store and manage data in a customizable way, making it suitable for various business processes, from product roadmaps to visual task management.
Airtable also lets you view tasks using grids, calendars, or Kanban boards. You can share interfaces, add comments, and track updates for easy collaboration. User permissions, base privacy settings, and audit logs keep your data secure. But its interface might take a bit longer to get used to compared to other spreadsheet tools.
Work together from anywhere with the best enterprise collaboration platform
Mural integrates seamlessly with all the tools on this list. Unlock your team's full potential with our enterprise collaboration software and start creating murals with powerful features, including:
- Infinite canvas: Boost creativity with an expandable workspace for brainstorming, mind mapping, and organizing complex projects.
- Version control and flexible permissions: Easily revert to earlier drafts if you need to, and keep track of who accesses and edits files.
- Sticky notes and text: Add ideas and comments directly on the canvas, making real-time collaboration easier.
- Anonymous voting: Break the ice on meetings and spark engagement with interactive polls.
- Library of templates: Save time on planning, creation, and task management with pre-built templates for agile workflows.
Add Mural to your set of best enterprise collaboration tools. Sign up for free.
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